Post-hole digger.



J. M. HEFNER.

POST HOLE BIGGER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1909.

944,552, Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

' designate JOHN M. HEFNER, OF BRYANS MILL, TEXAS.

POST-HOLE DIGGER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

Application filed July 14, 1909. Serial No. 507,577.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. HEFNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bryans Mill, in the county of Cass and State of Texas, haveinvented a new and useful Post-Hole Digger, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to post-hole diggers and has for an object toprovide a device of this character in which the handles will be disposedin the most advantageous manner for manipulation of the device indigging a post-hole, and will be connected directly to the shovel bladeswithout the use of the usual sockets, brackets or similar connectingdevice-s.

Another object is to provide a device of this character in which theshovel blades are drawn together at the upper ends and connected in ahinged joint, the great length of which absolutely prevents any bucklingor twisting movement of the blades and obviates the necessity of bladeguides so annoying in the usual form of post-hole diggers.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character in.which the handles are so secured to the shovel blades as to bepositively held from working loose or snapping off as in the usual formof post hole diggers.

\Vith the above advantages and other ob jects in view, which will appearas the nature of my invention is better understood,

my invention consists of the novel details of construction andcombination of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing shown inthe following specification and set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing,-Figure 1 is a perspective view of apost-hole digger constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 isan end elevation of the same shown in open position and dotted in closedposition.

In a more detailed description of my invention in which like charactersof reference similar parts in the view shown, 1 designates the shovelblades which are preferably formed from a single piece of sheet metal ofsuitable width and thickness to give a sufficient strength and rigidityto the blades.

The lower portion of each cutter blade is bulged or arched outwardly andterminates in a rounded cutting edge 2 adapted to penetrate the ground.I

The upper portion 3 of each blade is flattened and inclined inwardly, asshown, and is slightly less in width than the width of the shovel blade.

The upwardly inclined upper portions of the shovel blades terminate inhinged lugs 4: through which a pintle 5 is engaged to connect the shovelblades together in a hinged joint.

It will be noted that the shovel blades have a relative movement in aplane at right angles to the hinge and that this hinge is approximatelythe same in width as the width of the shovel blades, this peculiarconstruction enabling the blades to be subjected to an abnormal amountof racking strain without any tendency to buckle or twist off from thehinge.

Secured to the inwardly inclined upper portion of the shovel bladesbelow the hinge are handles 6 and 7 The handles are ofi set outwardlyadjacent their lower ends to conform to the inclined upper portions ofthe shovel blades. The off set terminal portions 8 of the handles areengaged through keepers 9 carried by the shovel blades and are securedin position by bolts or similar connectors 10 engaged transverselythrough the shovel blade and terminals of the handles adjacent theirends. By this construction, the handles are held in contact throughouttheir entire length when the shovel blades are in their normal or openposition in order that when the shovel blades have been driven into thepost-hole and worked down to their proper depth, the handles may beslightly spread apart to force the shovel blades together and cause theearth contained therebetween to be held fast as the blades are liftedfrom the hole when the handles may be again compressed to allow theearth to drop out.

By removing the pintle from the hinge either section of the device maybe used as a scoop shovel for clearing ditches, drains, etc.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, it is thought that the construction and operation of myinvention will be easily understood without a more extended explanation,it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, andminor details of construction may be made without sacrificing any of theadvantages or departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is 1. A post-hole digger comprising two simi lar shovelblades hinged together at their upper ends, the lower portion of eachbeing arched outwardly, and the upper portion being flattened andinclined inwardly, and handle levers connected to said blades below saidhinge.

2. A post-hole digger comprising two rela tively movable shovel bladeshinged together at the upper ends, each of said shovel blades having anoutwardly arched lower portion terminating in a rounded cutting edge,and an inwardly inclined upper portion terminating in a hinge lug, apintle engaging said lugs, and handles connected at their lower ends tothe upper ends of said blades below said hinge.

3. In a post-hole digger, two relatively movable shovel blades, eachhaving an outwardly bulged lower portion terminating in a roundedcutting edge, and an inwardly inclined flattened upper portion slightlyless in width than the width of the lower portion and terminating in ahinge lug, a pintle engaging said hinge lugs, and handle levers, thelower ends of which are off set outwardly and connected to the upperflattened portions of said shovel blades below the hinged lugs.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN M. HEFNER. lVitnesses:

G. E. SHIVE, C. S. ELLINGTON.

